Ray County, Missouri: commercial real estate data.
Ray County, Missouri had an estimated 23,199 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.2 percent since the 2020 census base of 23,161, across 569 square miles. County output reached $651.3 m in 2024, 360 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 14 7(a) approvals worth $9.1 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Ray County
How many people live in Ray County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202423,145
- Households9,116
- Average household size2.54
- Median household income$74,573
- Median age41.9
- Median gross rent$782 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$198,800
- Home value to household income2.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income12.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher16.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree4.9 percent
- Adults 25 and over16,182
- Population under 185,271
- Share under 1822.8 percent
- Population 65 and over4,468
- Share 65 and over19.3 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6413,406
- Civilian labor force11,229
- Unemployment rate3.4 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over62.8 percent
- Rank by population among Missouri counties49th of 115
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1726th of 3,222
Ray County is the 49th largest of 115 Missouri counties by population. A median home costs 2.7 times median household income, which is affordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.8 percent against 19.3 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Ray County
Is Ray County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202423,199
- Census 2020 base population23,161
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.16 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 202421
- Births, 2024242
- Deaths, 2024339
- Natural change, 2024-97
- Net domestic migration, 2024121
- Net international migration, 2024-1
- Total net migration, 2024120
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024432
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1768th of 3,144
The county has grown 0.16 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Ray County
Where are people moving to Ray County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving740
- People arriving, from those returns1,418
- Tax returns filed by households leaving651
- Net household movement89
- Adjusted gross income arriving$43.7 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$10.1 m
- Average income of an arriving household$58,997
- Average income of a leaving household$51,482
- Largest single originClay County (260 households)
- Largest single destinationClay County (219 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | 260 | 514 | $14.7 m |
| Jackson County | 106 | 195 | $5.0 m |
| Lafayette County | 50 | 96 | $3.3 m |
| Platte County | 45 | 89 | $3.0 m |
| Clinton County | 23 | 38 | $1.3 m |
| Caldwell County | 22 | 48 | $870,000 |
Households arriving report $7,515 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Clay County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Ray County
What is the Ray County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$651.3 m
- County GDP, 2023$634.2 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20242.7 percent
- GDP change over five years30.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Missouri areas BEA publishes61st of 115
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2212th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$28,142
Output grew 2.7 percent in the latest year and 30.2 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Ray County
Employment by industry in Ray County
- Covered employment, annual average4,007
- Establishments reporting460
- Average annual pay$47,361
- Average weekly wage$911
- Retail trade, employment592
- Retail trade, average annual pay$30,236
- Manufacturing, employment462
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$75,061
- Accommodation and food services, employment364
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$18,351
- Other services, except public administration, employment186
- Other services, except public administration, average annual pay$39,973
- Construction, employment170
- Finance and insurance, employment114
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 592 | 46 | $30,236 |
| Manufacturing | 462 | 17 | $75,061 |
| Accommodation and food services | 364 | 26 | $18,351 |
| Other services, except public administration | 186 | 35 | $39,973 |
| Construction | 170 | 48 | $55,305 |
| Finance and insurance | 114 | 28 | $80,904 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 113 | 16 | $46,200 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 94 | 29 | $57,063 |
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 592 jobs, 14.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Ray County
How many businesses are in Ray County?
- Establishments, all industries360
- Employment at those establishments2,816
- Annual payroll$113.1 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents15.6
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Ray County
Building permits in Ray County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202470
- Declared construction value permitted$18.3 m
- Single family units authorized66
- Multifamily units authorized4
- Multifamily share of units5.7 percent
- Average declared value per unit$261,098
- Units authorized per 1,000 households7.7
Single-family homes are 94.3 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Ray County
SBA loans in Ray County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded14
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$9.1 m
- Average 7(a) approval$647,064
- Median 7(a) approval$290,500
- Largest single approval$2,304,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)83
- Jobs per approval5.9
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active9
- Distinct industries receiving approvals9
- Median 7(a) term167 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer46.2 percent
- Loans on real estate terms6
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter6
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals14.3 percent
- Most active lenderOakStar Bank (4)
- 504 approvals recorded4
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.4 m
- Average 504 approval$361,500
- Median 504 approval$146,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval4.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.8
- Most active CDCClay/Platte Development Corporation (3)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$10.5 m
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ray County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Ray County
Do SBA loans in Ray County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded4
- Paid in full4
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full4
- Status: Exempt from disclosure7
- Status: Cancelled2
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 4 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ray County
SBA lending by place in Ray County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending3
- Richmond, approvals9
- Lawson, approvals4
- Henrietta, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | 9 | $7,738,000 |
| Lawson | 4 | $1,113,900 |
| Henrietta | 1 | $207,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Ray County
How large is Ray County?
- Land area569 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Missouri counties60th of 115
- Width, east to west24.3 mi
- Height, north to south26.5 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary6
- Residents per square mile of land41
- Establishments per square mile0.63
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Ray County
Flood risk in Ray County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Ray County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 290778
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book11
- Of those, participating in the NFIP7
- NFIP participation rate63.6 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Ray County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/LZone 2
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Ray County (community 290778), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Ray County in radon zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. 63.6 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Ray County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Ray County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202423,145
- Households9,116
- Average household size2.54
- Median household income$74,573
- Median age41.9
Common questions
Ray County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Ray County, Missouri?
The Census Bureau estimates 23,199 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 23,145, in 9,116 households, ranking 49th of 115 Missouri counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Ray County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.16 percent since the 2020 census base of 23,161, to 23,199 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 242 births against 339 deaths, with net migration of 120. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Ray County?
$74,573. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $198,800, which is 2.7 times income, and median gross rent is $782 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Ray County?
360 establishments, employing 2,816 people with an annual payroll of $113.1 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Ray County?
Retail trade is the largest private sector at 592 jobs, 14.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 4,007 jobs at an average annual pay of $47,361, or $911 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Ray County?
14 7(a) approvals totaling $9.1 m since FY2020, across 9 lenders, with a median approval of $290,500, plus 4 504 approvals worth $1.4 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Ray County?
70 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $18.3 m. Multifamily was 5.7 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Ray County?
Zone 2, a predicted average indoor radon screening level from 2 to 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Ray County come from?
The largest single origin is Clay County, with 260 households. Arriving households report an average income of $58,997 against $51,482 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Ray County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Ray County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Ray County
Cities and places in Ray.
15 Census places lie wholly or partly in Ray County. All 15 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excelsior Springs | city | 10,484 | None recorded | 9.8 percent here, 90.2 percent Clay County |
| Richmond | city | 5,959 | 9 | Wholly in this county |
| Lawson | city | 2,905 | 4 | 37.1 percent here, 62.9 percent Clay County |
| Wood Heights | city | 784 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Orrick | city | 727 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hardin | city | 681 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Crystal Lakes | city | 436 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Henrietta | city | 390 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Vibbard | CDP | 244 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Excelsior Estates | village | 239 | None recorded | 85.9 percent here, 14.1 percent Clay County |
| Homestead | village | 146 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Camden | city | 135 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rayville | CDP | 84 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fleming | city | 68 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Elmira | village | 17 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby